Detachable platform for small boats



Feb. 23, 1954 J, PICKER 2,669,733

DETACHABLE PLATFORM FOR SMALL BOATS Filed Sept. 14, 1951 J /7 I /9INVENTOR meaLa P/cmsze, F76. 6. I 24 ,'Z/ j? k BY J7 /MzflM7za/2z Pam j;ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES OFF ICE.

DETACHABLE PLATFORM FOR SMALL BOATS This invention relates to detachableplatforms for small boats and more particularly to a detachable platformhaving an attached ladder, so that it can be used as a swimming anddiving platform to provide on small boats, such as rowboats, theswimming and diving facilities usually associated with larger boats,such as power cruisers and yachts.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a detachableplatform assembly which can be quickly and easily mounted on anddetached from small boats, such as rowboats, and when attached, providesa convenient platform for diving or swimming; which includes a dependingladder to provide convenient access to the platform from the water andguard rails or handles to assist in gaining the platform from the ladderand prevent accidental falling from the ends of the platform; which ismounted on the bow of a boat symmetrically of the longitudinal centerline thereof to avoid tipping or accidentally upsetting the associatedboat; which is firmly secured to the boat when in operative positionagainst the danger of accidental separation; which can be folded to acompact condition for transportation and storage; and which is simpleand durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to use, andneat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and the appended claims in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of the bow end of a boatshowing a detachable platform assembly illustrative of the inventionperatively mounted thereon;

Figure is a transverse cross sectional view on the line of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional View on an enlarged scale on.the line i l of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a clamp lock constituting an operativecomponent of the assembly;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale onthe line 5-5 of Figure l; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Figure 4, butshowing a somewhat modified construction.

With continued reference to the drawing, the boat Ill, fragmentarilyillustrated, is a small, open type boat, such as a rowboat, having astem ll, sides [2 and It secured at their front ends to the stem atrespectively opposite sides of the latter, gunwales I l and i5 extendingalong the upper edges of the sides l2 and I3 respectively and convergingto the stem, and a bow thwart It disposed between the sides 12 and it ata location spaced downwardly from the gunwales I l and I5.

The detachable platform or separable deck assembly comprises a platformplate ll of elongated, rectangular shape and formed of suitablematerial, such as wood, light metal or synthetic material. Battens l8and is are secured to the plate ll, one at each end and at the same sideof the plate and extend transversely of the plate substantially flushwith the end edges of the latter and in spaced apart and substantiallyparallel relationship to each other. These battens are substantiallycoterminous with the width of the plate and each is provided with spacedapart, longitudinally extending slots, as indicated at 20.

Arm 2| and 22, somewhat longer than the battens Hi and It, are disposedagainst the inner sides of the battens l8 and I 9 respectively, andbolts 23 carrying wing nuts 24 extend through apertures in the arms andthrough the slots 28 in the battens to secure the arms to thecorresponding battens for longitudinal movements of adjustment of thearms longitudinally of the battens, so that the extent to which the armseX- tend from one of the side edges of the plate I! can be adjusted toaccommodate the device to different bow shapes.

Clamp blocks 25 and 25 are disposed at the side of the plate H fromwhich the battens and arms extend and these clamp blocks are disposed atrespectively opposite sides of the midlength location of the plate andspaced substantially equal distances from the mid-length location. Asthese blocks are substantially identical in construction, a detailedillustration and description of one only is considered sufficient forthe purposes of this disclosure and the block 25 has been selected forsuch detailed illustration and description and is illustrated in detailin Figure 5.

The clamp block 25 is an elongated rectangular body of substantiallysquare or cross sectional shape recessed or rabbeted out along one edgeto provide a recess ii of right angular shape and recessed intermediateits length to provide a notch 28 of rectangular shape having a lengthmaterially less than the length of the block and disposed substantiallysymmetrically of the midlength location of the latter. This provides astructure including an elongated bar of rectanguiar cross sectionalshape and two rectangular blocks disposed on one side of the bar, one ateach end of the latter and projecting beyond one side of the bar toprovide ledges or flanges 29.

When the clamp block is operatively applied to the .boat, the associatedboat gunwale is received in the recess 2i and the flanges 29 overlie thetop edge of the gunwales to support the block on the gunwale. The clampblock is provided with apertures 55) and Si extending transverselytherethrough and elongated longitudinally of the block and the plate iiis provided with fourlongitudinally extending slots 32, 33, 3d and 35.The slots 32 and 33 are disposed substantially parallel to each otherand adjacent one end of the plate, While the slots 3d and 35 aredisposed substantially parallel to each other and adjacent the other endof the plate. Bolts 36 carrying wing nuts 31' extend one through each ofthe slots in the plate ii and through each of the apertures in the clampblock and adjustably secure the clamp blocks to the plate, so that theclamp blocks can be positioned relative to the plate to receive the bowend portion of the gunwales of boats having diiferently shaped bows.

In the arrangement shown in Figure i, a G- clamp $8, of knownconstruction, extends through the recess 23 in the slide block and overthe upper edge of the gum-vale and has its fixed abutment engaging theouter side of the gunwale and its movable abutment engaging the innerside of the corresponding clamp block to rigidly clamp the clamp blockto the associated gunwale of the boat.

In the somewhatmodified arrangement shown in Figure 7, an ear or lug 39is secured to the clamp block within the notch 28 thereof andconstitutes the fixed abutment of the C-clamp. The C-clamp extends fromthis lug over the upper edge of the associated gunwale and its movableabutment engages the outer side of the gunwale to firmly clamp the clampblock to the associated boat .gunwale.

With this arrangement, the platform plate ii is firmly clamped to thegunwales of a boat and is disposed at the bow end of the boatsubstantially symmetrically of the longitudinal center line of the boat,so that the boat will not be tipped or accidentall upset by a personstanding on the platform or climbing onto the platform from the water.

A ladder All? is connected to and extends from the platform andcomprises two chains ii and :22 connected each at one end to the arms 2!and 22 respectively, near the ends of the arms projecting outwardly fromthe platform plate i! and cross-bars or rungs 33 extending between andconnected at their ends to the chains ll and 32 at substantiallyuniformly spaced apart loca tions along the chains.

In the arrangement illustrated, there are three ladder rungs whichprogressively decrease in length'in a direction away from the platformand each of the chains includes swivel joints M therein disposed onebetween each two adjacent rungs, so that the chain will automaticallyuntwist if it is dropped into the water in a twisted condition.

Flat hooks 45 and lti are slidably secured to the platform plate ii andproject from the edge of the plate from which the arms ill and 22prcject. These hooks can be pulled out, as indicated by dotted lines inFigure 3, to receive the ladder rungs and support the ladder above thewater when it is desired to move the boat with the platform attachedthereto.

A guard member il in the form of an elon gated bar extends between andis secured at its ends to the arms 2! and 22 at the ends of the armsremote from the ,plate ll This guard bar overlies the prow of the boatand has rounded outer edges to protect a person climbing the ladder andonto the platform plate against the sharp prow of the boat. Where thisguard bar is not needed, it may be omitted without in any way exceedingthe scope of the invention.

U-s-haped guard rails 48 and 49 upstand, one from each end of the plateii and are releasably secured at their open ends to the platform plate.

.As vis particularly illustrated in Figure 6, the platform plate hastubular sockets 5t extending therethrough, one at each corner thereof,and through the corresponding batt'ens l8 and I, each tubular socketbeing provided at one end with an outwardly projecting annular flangerecessed into the upper surface of the plate H and at its other end witha screw threaded portion receiving a nut 51 which bears against the edgeof the batten remote from the plate, so that the socket assists insecuring the batten to the plate. The guard rails are preferably ofelongated, rectangular cross sectional shape and are provided on theirends with extensions of circular cross sectional shape which fit intothe corresponding sockets to support the guard rails in upright positionon the platform plate. If desired, the distal end portions of theextensions 52 may be screw threaded and wing nuts 53 threaded onto thesescrew threaded portions to positively'maintain the end portions of theguard rails in the corresponding sockets.

When it is desired to fold the device for transportation or storage, thewing nuts 24 are loosened and the arms moved inwardly of thecorresponding battens to their limiting inner positions. The guard railsi438 and t9 are then removed from the platform plate and laid flatthereon and the ladder chains are then wrapped about the plate and theguard rails to provide a small package of convenient size to carry.

The platform plate ii is preferably provided on its upper surface with amat or covering 54 of a suitable material, such as rubber, which willresist the slipping of wet feet on the platform and the clamp blocksmay, if desired, be provided with pads of resilient *material to protectthe gunwales of boats to which the device is attached, from damage.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a deckless boat having a stem at its bow andgunwales extending along the upper edge thereof and converging to saidstem, a platform assembly mountedon said gunwales adjacent said stem andconstituting a separable deck assembly, said assembly comprising a plateextending across said gunwales and the "space therebetween and havingone edge disposed adjacent said stem, and clamps disposed along theunder side of said plate and connected thereto for movement ofadjustment relative to said plate to bring said clamps into engagementwith said gunwales and clamp said plate to said gunwales.

2. In combination with a deckless boat having a stem at its bow andgunwales extending along the upper edge thereof and converging to saidstem, a separable deck assembly mounted on said gunwales adjacent saidstem and comprising a plate extending across said gunwales and the spacetherebetween and having one edge disposed adjacent said stem, clampsdisposed at the under side of said plate and connected thereto formovements of adjustment relative to said plate and connected thereto formovements of adjustment relative to said plate to bring said clamps intoengagement with said gunwales and clamp said plate to said gunwales,said plate being of a size to provide a diving platform, and guard railstructures mounted on said plate near the edges of said plate adjacentsaid gunwales and extending upwardly from said plate in spaced apartrelationship to each other.

3. In combination with a deckless boat having a stem at its bow andgunwales extending along the upper edge thereof and converging to saidstem, a platform assembly mounted on said gunwales adjacent said stemand constituting a separable deck assembly, said assembly comprising aplate extending across said gunwales and the space therebetween andhaving one edge disposed adjacent said stem, clamps disposed at theunder side of said plate and connected to said plate for movements ofadjustment relative to the plate to bring said clamps into engagementwith said gunwales and securely clamp said plate to said gunwales, armsextending across said plate one adjacent the outer side of each of saidgunwales and projecting outwardly of said one edge of said plate, meansconnecting said arms to said plate for movements of adjustment of saidarms relative to said plate longitudinally of said arms, and a flexibleladder connected at one end of said arms adjacent the ends of said armsdisposed outwardly of said one edge of said plate and depending fromsaid arms.

4. In combination with a deckless boat havin a stem at its bow andgunwales extending along the upper edge of the boat and converging tosaid stern, a platform assembly mounted on said gunwales adjacent saidstern and constituting a separable deck assembly, said assemblycomprising a plate extending across said gunwales and the spacetherebetween and having one edge adja cent said stem, clamps disposed atthe under side of said plate and connected to said plate for movementsof adjustment relative to the plate to bring said clamps into engagementwith said gunwales and securely clamp said plate to said gunwales, armsextending across said plate one adjacent the outer side of each of saidgunwales and projecting outwardly of said one edge of said plate, meansconnecting said arms to said plate for movements of adjustment of saidarms relative to said plate longitudinally of said arms, a flexibleladder connected at one end of said arms adjacent the ends of said armsdisposed outwardly of said one edge of said plate and depending fromsaid arms, and a guard bar extending between and secured to said arms atthe ends of said arms disposed outwardly of said one edge of said plateand depending from said arms, and a guard bar extending between andsecured to said arms at the ends of said arms disposed outwardly of saidone edge of said plate.

HARQLD J. PICKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName 7 Date 596,427 Rickey Dec. 28, 1897 1,141,196 McLaren June 1, 19151,257,073 Frank Feb. 19, 1918 1,332,171 Endreson Feb. 24, 1920 1,568,307Acocella Jan. 5, 1926 1,709,910 Gray Apr. 23, 1929 2,187,633 Smith Jan.16, 1940

